Analytics Stories

CHAPTER 59How Do Baseball Teams Decide Where to Shift Fielders?

During 1894–1907, Hall of Fame outfielder William Henry “Wee Willie” Keeler played for all three New York teams (Yankees, Dodgers, and Giants). His advice to hitters was “Keep your eye clear and hit 'em where they ain't.” Today, most major league teams position fielders with the philosophy “put them where they hit.” In this chapter, we explore how the increased use of the shift has changed baseball.

The Debut of the Shift

The great left-handed hitter Ted Williams usually hit the ball to the right side of the field. On July 14, 1946, the Cleveland Indians player-manager Lou Boudreau decided to play all four infielders, the right fielder, and center fielder on the right side of the field. During the rest of Williams's great career (interrupted by military service in the Korean War), teams used the shift during most of his plate appearances. Williams estimated that the shift cost him 15 points in batting average. Figure 59.1 illustrates the difference between today's most common shift (three infielders between first and second base) and the normal alignment of fielders.

Figure 59.1: Comparison of the shift and normal fielding alignments

The Return of the Shift

After a 50+ year hiatus, the shift has returned with a vengeance. In 2010, teams shifted on 3% of plate appearances, and in 2019, teams shifted on 15% ...